Volvo Buses and ABB have partnered to develop automatic e-bus fast charging solutions for electric-hybrid and full-electric Volvo buses.

Under the deal, Volvo Buses will provide electric-hybrid buses and full-electric buses, while ABB will offer standard-based fast-charging solutions for the electric vehicles.

Volvo Buses president Hakan Agnevall said: "Together, we have a complete and competitive offer for cities around the world that want to switch to a sustainable public transport system."

"Electric-hybrid buses and full electric buses are tomorrow's solution for urban public transport. Volvo will team up with a few global actors in this field, and ABB is one of them."

According to Volvo, the partnership will work to standardize automatic e-bus fast charging, and deal with the communications protocol between infrastructure charging solution and e-bus, electrical interface, and specification of the automatic connection system (ACS).

The companies plan to implement the Volvo electric-hybrids and automatic e-bus chargers in the Luxembourg public transport system.

Around 12 Volvo electric-hybrid buses will be operated by Sales-Lentz on existing public bus lines by 2015.

The Volvo electric-hybrid is set for launch at the upcoming IAA exhibition in Germany later this year, while the first full-electric buses will be unveiled in June 2015 within the ElectriCity project in Sweden.